The best briefcase at every price

Face it: You can't get away with bringing a backpack to work anymore. Briefcases have come back in style, but these aren't your father's bags.

Gone are the metal attaché cases and hard shell leather cases of years past. They've been replaced by soft cases better suited to hold MacBooks than nuclear codes.

It's finally time to upgrade your work bag, and you can't go wrong with any one of these suggestions. We've even broken it down by price point, so you can find the perfect bag for your workplace and budget.

$1,000+: Lotuff Wells Briefcase

The Wells is a classically styled French-gusset portfolio brief with just enough space for the essentials. Made with solid brass hardware and Lotuff's own specially processed leather, it's thin and light and won't slow you down as you dash across town.

$2,500+: Swaine Adeney Lombard

One of the names in English handmade bridle leather briefcases, Swaine Adeney's Lombard won't bat an eye at anything you throw at it. The inside is lined with pigskin, and the impact-resistant structure will protect your belongings.

The lock closure adds an extra layer of security for your laptop and sensitive documents.

$7,500+: Hermes Sac a Depeches

Here it is, the one briefcase that all other briefcases must measure themselves against: the Sac a Depeches. Like many of the accessories at Hermés, this is a status piece. But if you're going to spend this much on a briefcase, you should get more than just a leather bag.

The case is handmade from premium pebbled leather with the guarantee of Hermés quality.